The Fullest Windsor: 4 Tie Knots You Have Never Heard Of

Full Windsor, half Windsor, bow tie: you thought you had all the ways to tie a tie down. There are always secrets creeping about in fashion, though. Just when you thought you knew it all about ties, here are four knots you’ve probably never heard of before. You may find that you like some of these knots better than the classic Windsor, or that one knot better suits your shirt styles than another.

Prince Albert. If you like narrow ties and small knots, try out the Prince Albert. It works best with lightweight, thin ties and longer collars. To make the knot, bring the wide end of the tie over and behind the narrow end, then bring it back over the narrow end. Repeat so that the wide end wraps around the narrow part twice. Bring the tip of the wide end behind the narrow part and up through the loop around your neck, then bring the end through the knot and pull tightly to finish.

The Kent. The Kent knot is another small knot. It’s a great option for taller men, as it doesn’t use as much fabric. It’s also well suited for thicker fabrics, as the tie won’t get too bulky since the knot is small. To make the knot, twist the wider side of the tie so that the seam faces out. Bring the wide end under the narrow end, then back over the narrow end. Bring the wide end under the loop around the neck, then up and over, threading the end through the knot made at the neck. Pull the tie to tighten.

Nicky Knot. The Nicky knot is a great choice for wool ties, as it produces a symmetrical, smallish knot that won’t bunch up or make the tie look bulky. Start with the wide end of the tie on your left side, then bring it below the narrow end. Lift the end up and bring it through the loop at your neck. Next, bring the wide end back over the narrow end, then under and through the neck loop again. Pull the ends of the tie to tighten.

Cavendish. The Cavendish knot is a double version of the simple knot, meaning it has two centers. The wide part of the tie starts on the right side of the body, then is brought over the narrow end, then under, then back over again. The wide end is then threaded up through the loop at the neck, and the process repeated a second time. Pull on the ends to tighten.